Thermostatic control



April 5 1927. 1,623,566

W. l. TWOMBLY THEMOSTATIC CONTROL Filed May i, 1922 INVENTOR M//d/J am/y' l Patented Apr. 5, 1927.

l UNITED* .STATES -Y rATENT OFFICE.

WILLABD I. mwomBLY; or NEW yonx,

. DELAWARE.

Application ,illed Hay 1,

l This invention relates to thermostatic coni trol devices and more particularly to devices of this kind which are to be u ed for controlling the supply o f fuel, de ivered tol` a lq 'burner in accordance with the temperatures maintained by the combustion of the fuel. The present `device"is'especially adapted for use in a gas stove and it will be described in that adaptation, thoughit is to 'be"underl0 stood that it is suitable for other similar purpose's. J ,wn y

l The invention is directed to the provision of a simple, reliable/and easily manipulated controldevice which may be readily installed 1,5 on a stove and by which an even and uniform temperature of any selected value may be maintained inthe oven, thu's greatly simplifyingthe cooking of foods and lesseningthe attention requiredof the operator.

@ne of the features of the invention .involves the provision of a noveLc/onstructlon for the piplng through which the gas flows to the burnery of the overr and in which is located the valve controlled by the theremostatic element andfserving to regulate the -rate of supply of gas tothe burner. This novel construction is distinctive in its com-` l actness,'wl1ereby it greatly simplifies and essens the-cost of application of the con- :zo troller to the stove. It includes a conduit member having passages in itv through which the gas flows to and from the thermostatically controlled valve, which member is arranged for connection rto the supply pipe or manifold running along the rfront of the stove so as toireceive gas therefrom, and also for connection to the pi e leading to the oven burner so as to Supp gas thereto. The usual form of asstove has an ovenat one.

40 side thereof an a pipe, generally termed a "manifold, running alon'gthe other side at the front of the stove and supplying the several burners through suitable-branches provided with'cocks.

l5 invention, the regulator is adapted for con f nection to thi#J end of the manifold' adjacent to the oven, to be sustained thereby and to receive .as therefrom; the re ulator-extends upward y fiom the end of t e manifold to the thermostatic element which is mounted In accordance with this...

N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 THE WILCOLATOR COMPANY, 0F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF THEnmosTarIc CONTROL.

1922. Serial No. $575,669.

within the oven upon the side wall thereof which is adjacent to the manifold. The portion of the re lator which is secured to the manifold inc udes a valve chamber and a valve therein movable toward and from a seat by the thermostatic element preferably italso includes a supplemental manifold c'onv sistmg of a casting having two Ipassages therethrough, one receiving gas from ,the manifold and conveying it to the valve chambei* on one side of the valve and theother receivng gas from the' valve chamber onl the other side of the valve and transmitting it to the ovelr` burner. 'This' construction j.reduces toa minimum the changes that must be made 1n the stove to install the regulator thereon, and also 'the labor and materials required in installing-it landrby reason of its simplicity itmay be manufactured at lowu cost. l l l 70 Another feature of the inventibn involves the construction of the parts whereby the thermostatic element. is connected .to the valve which it actuates, and the coaction therewith of the manually adjustable means whereby ,the regulator is set for maintaining the desired tem erature. This means includes a manna ly operated setting device and `,connections whereby the position of the setting device determines the effect of movements of the thermostatic element upon the valve, as by adjusting the position of a lever `in theA connectlons from the. element to the valve to make the lever more or less effective to move k the valve, as may be desired.

The invention includes additional novel features whichwill be pointed out 'in detail' in the description to follow and illustrated in thedrawings. I

Ink the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is aview in elevation of a thermostatic` control embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the thermostatic control shown in Fig. 1, the section being taken on line 2-2 of- Fi 1; Fig. 3 is a horizontal ysectional View ta en on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional View of the manifold adapter'shown in Figs. l' and2;Fig. 5isa detail section view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 6 is a perspec-s 100 tive view of a portion of stove showing the manner in-which the control 'is connected to the stove and the gas manifold.

The thermostatic control per se,embody ing my invention, in whatever Afor1n,' cc m prises a thermostat of two substances `hav ing different co-efiicients of expansion, which is subjected tothe heatfrom a burner vfor which the control regulates the supply of fuel, a mechanical connection between the thermostat and a valve 'which latter coacts with a seat to control the fuel supply to the burner, and a compensating means for varying the position of the valve to maintain'the desired temperatures. Preferably, the'means for varying the position of the valve is located adjacent the thermostat,

and the valve and seat are located at a distance from the thermostat preferably at a -2 is held in any desired adjusted position.

As shown, the' seatcomprises a cup shaped portion having a bevel 2f* on the inner edge of which the valve 11 seats. The valve seat 2 has a screw threaded portion 3 which works in a screw threaded portion 4 of the casing. After the seat has been adjusted to the required position in the casing, and this is necessary because of the differences in the amounts of expansive movementof thermostats of the same kind at the same temperatures, the seat is locked in that position by means of a nut 5 and pin 6. If it becomes necessary at any time thereafter to Aremove the seat for cleaning, it may be easily removed from the easing and returned.,

without further adjustment.v

7 designates an inlet for the fuel, which may be gas, to the casing 1.v Whenthecontrol is used in connection with a gas stove, the inlet 7 is connected with the manifold of the gas stove through what I have termed a supplemental manifold to be hereinafter described. The gas passes into Y the cup portion of the seat through the openmgs 8, 8, past the valvell, through the passage 9 in the casin 1 to the supplemental manifold 50 and from there to the burner for the oven. .It will be observed Y. that the flowl of gas through the inlet 7 is deflected u ward, then inward and again upward be ore assing the valve l1 which hasthe effect o permitting any impurities in the gas falling to the bottoni of` the well 2h before reaching the seat 2. The impurities may be removed when the valve is removed for cleaning. Also by reason of the spherical surface of thevalve resting on the inner edge of the bevel 2a there is little chance of any impurities collecting at that point to prevent the valve seating. 10 deslgnates a rod which is adjustable in the valve 2, and may be used to prevent 4the valve seating in the event that a slight fiow of gas is to be allowed past the valve 11 to supply a pilot light.

20 designates a thermostat composed ol two substances havingdifierent co-eflicienis of expansion. As here shown, the thermostat 'is composed of two metals welded togethervthroughout their entire length and having widely different co-efiicients of expansion, as for example, steel and brass. As shown, it is C-shaped, and one end'2l is secured tothe wall of a casing 22. provided with a cover 23. The casing 22 is supported by a casing 40 containing a mechanical connection and a compensating means, which in turn is supported by a tube 61 carried by the casing 1. The casing 22 is held between the flange 24 of a sleeve 2, washers 26 and 27 of some heat insulating material, and a washer 27a. The sleeve 25 is screw threaded exteriorly and works in a screw threaded opening in the wall of the casing 40. This arrangement permits 0f the casing 22 and thermostat being inserted in the oven at any depth from the adjacent side wall. The length of the tube 61 may also be varied so that the casing 22 and the thermostat may be located at any point between the top and bottom of the oven. A plate 27b to cover the opening in the oven wall is also carried by the sleeve 25 and is held in position, between a shoulder 27d carried by the casing 40' and washers 27e and 27. 28 designates a shaft extending through the sleeve 25, and journaled therein and 29 is an arm fixed on the shaft 28 and connected with the free end 30 of the thermostat. Also fixed to the other end of the shaft 28 is an arm which is connected with one end of a lever 34. through a link 31, the other end of the lever being connected with a rod 35, to which the valve 11 is connected. The lever 34 is provided with a fulcrnm point 3G upon which it rocks by the expansion and contraction of the thermostat 20 to seat and unseat the valve 11. It will be understood that when the thermostat expands, the valve is aided in its seating by gravity. v

37 designates a lever, one end of which is pivoted at 38 to a support 39 suitably mounted within the casing 40. The other end of the lever 37 rides upon a cam 32, and

intermediate the ends ot' the lever 37. it is connected to the fulcrum point 36. Ar: ilu` cam 32 is rotatedin either direction it will be seen that the lever 34 will he raised or lowered (and with it thc valve 11) about the connecting pin 34 as a pivot. 'lhe cam 32 is carried by a shaft 32a which is journaled in a wall of the casing 40, and thel shaft 32a is held in its bearing by means ot a spring 32b which is confined between the wall of the casing 40 and the inner surface of a combined cooking and setting dial 41,

temperature is done by moving the ydial 41 Y .which is also secured to the shaft 32a by a `which coact with a spring pressed ball 44 which is confined in achollow projection 45 carried by the wall of the casing` 40.

The combined cooking and setting dial 41 is cup shaped and of a refractory material, or material which is a non-conductor of heat, and a band 41lb surrounds the cylindrical wall of thefcup and has arranged thereon temperature scale divisions, e ually spaced, of 10 degrees each, together wit the na-mes of food substances opposite the temperatures required lfor their cooking. The periphe of the cup is` serrated or toothed as indicate at 41d 4for the purpose of radiating any heat which ma be absorbed by they dial 41, and for provi ingfor a better, grip to turn the dial. A pointerf41e .is secured to the ycasing and projects over the dial 4l and cooperates with the dial in-tixing its position tol maintain the different temperatures.

The setting of the device for any desired until that particular tempera-ture designation on the dial lies beneath the .pointer 41". By such adjustment, the lshaft32a is rotated so that the cam 32 carried byl it causes a movement of thelpivotof lever 34. The effectiveness of the connection between the thermostat and the valve is thus varied, vand a greater vor less movement of the thermostat, as the case may-be, is required to cause the valve tofshut. It follows, therefore, that n by such-variationfin the effectiveness of the connections the valve may be made topseat at any glvenvtemperature within therange of the instrument, andwhen the temperature within the oven falls below this selected value the :valve is immediately raised from its seat so as to permit a further flow of gas ltothe oven burner. In` the event that a thermostatic element is employed of the type inwhich the extent of movementof the element varies throughout the temperature.

range, such varlations. in movement of the element :may be compensated for by proper designinggnf thecam 32.A For example, in

certain eleflfnents an increase `vin temperature 250 F. .to 260'*F.will 'produce a certain movement ofthe free end ofthe element whi`le a 10 variation at a `different point 1n the temperature range, as from 490 to500", will cause amovementwhich is not `the same 'as'4 that produced by the. temperature variation first mentioned. By properlydesigning the ,cam, these lvariations in movementof the element may be equalized so'that a dial' may be employed -in which the scale divisions areof equal .size throughout y tcr'nperaturerv range intended t0 becov# e'red ,bythescale.'v J

The operation ofthe .form of control,

moves with it land raises the fulcrum point 36 ofthe lever 34, and thereby the valve. The valve 11 will be then set in the position to seat and cut off the supply of fuel when the thermostat has kexpanded its distance for the set temperature. As the thermostat eX-,

pands, it carries with it 'the arm 33, which rocks the lever 34 on the fulcrum point 36 and permits the valve 11 to move to its seat under the inuence of gravity. The' same operation occurs whenv the con# trol is set for other temperatures. It will be understood that when the dial 41 is moved from a low temperature to a higher one the fulcrum point 36 (and with itV the .valve l1) s raised, and when the dial 41 is moved from a high temperature to a lower one, the fulcrum point valve 11) is lowered.

Referring now to Fig. 6 I have shown a thermostat applied `to a gas stove having vanl oven located above the top pla-te 71.`

As here shown the thermostatic control is located onf the. wall 70a ofthev oven adjacent the top plate 71 and as being o f ther 'same construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5 in- 36l (and with it the' elusive. It willbe obviousffromthese fig- 4casing 40, or having the tube 61- in an inclined plane, or by both of-these changes. Further the thermostat (in the casing 22) may be arran ed yin the oven lat any point by varying.

]acent side wall beyond the a the length of the sleeve 25.

Q By loca-ting the thermostatic. control. onl

that wall of the oven adjacent the top plate 71, .I economizeinthe space required to properly locate thel gas stove. I am also.

enabled to economize in the amount of pip'- `l'ngrequired to connect it with' the main manifold. The foregoing advantages are Asecured by means of the supplementalfmnnifold .50. This -manifold shown .in section f in Fig. 4, is of unitary'construction and may be a casting. It consists of a housingA containing two separate chambers o r :pas-

sages 50a'and 50". 4 The-chamber. 50ais openk to the manifold pipe( -52 on vthe end of `which the .supplemental manifold is vthreaded and Vgas entering the chamber 5 0? flows through noutlet conduit 50 to a. con' nection 54 with the inlet 7 in the casing 1.

The gas flows through the casing past valve l1, then through outlet 9 and conduit 55 outlet ()e to the pipe leading burner not illustrated.

This construction is exceedingly compact4 and therefore may be installed upon a stove in a small amount of space .with a minimuln amount' of piping and at small. expense,

and, when installed, does not detract from thermostat-ic element is to be located, this extension being the tube 61 /which houses the connection whereby the movements of the thermostatic element are transmitted to.. Preferably. the

the movable valve member. connection "to the stove manifold is effected 'by such a supplemental manifold as that shown in Fig. l consisting ofa single casting having two passages through it, one

for receiving gas from the stove 'manifold and the other for delivering gas to the oven burner. VThis special form of supplemental .manifold or such other connecting device ,as maybe employed, may be connected directly to vor may be formed integral with the valve casing in which the valve member 1l moves to and from itsseat, or pipes such as those .designated 54 and 55 may be employed of a length ldetermined byl theV locations desired for the various parts. Thus practically no change inthe stove structure is required. The regulator is applied to the end of the stove manifold' and the oven burner, instead of being connected to .the manifold, i's connected to the supplementalmanifold at the point 50e provided for the purpose.`

Having thus described my invention, whatl claim as new is:

1. In combination, ,a' gas stovevhaving aA manifold, an ovennburner having an inletl connection near the end -of said manifold, a valve for controlling the supply of gas to such burner and anlintegral connection lo- -cated at a distance from said valve and adapted to transmit gas from said manifold to a connection of said valve and to receive gas from a connection of said 'valve and vcarry it to the inlet of the oven burner.

l2.-A device as claimed Ain c1aim1, in

lwhich said valve.' is operated 'by a thermo# static element influenced by heat generated a chamber having a gas inlet and a gas outlet, a valve within the chamber, a lever vconto the ovenl nected at one end to the free end of the thermostat and atl the other to the valve, this lever being pivotally mounted intermediate its ends, and means for varying the position of the pivot of the lever.

A thermostatic control mechanism comprising the combination of a curved thermostatic element having a free end and a fixed end, a shaft lying substantially in the axis of curvature of the element and connected to the free end of the latter, the shaft being given a rotary movement by the expansion yand contraction ofthe element, a pivoted lever connected to the shaft and adapted to be rocked on its pivot by the angular movement of the shaft, a valve having a-stem connected to one end of the lever, this valve being opened and closed on its s eat by the rocking movement of the lever on its pivot, and means operatively connected to the `\pivoted lever for varying the position of the valve relative to its seat.

5. A ,thermostatic control mechanism comprising the combination of a casing adapted to be placed in an oven, a thermostatic element in said casing, a pivot member adapted toextend through the oven wall and to be rotated by movement of said thermostatic element, a pipe having an inlet and an outlet connection and a valve between the two, and a lever connected with said pivot member, adapted to operate said valve.

6. A complete heat control unit for ovens comprising authermostatic element adapted to be placed in an oven near the top thereof, a .valve adapted 4to be positioned near the bottom of the oven, a gas-tight casing enclosing said element and said2valve,'an operative connection Vbetween said element and said valve compiising a vertical member extending substa tially the vertical distance from the valvegte the element and adapted to operate by vertical movement, a manually operable control for regulating the opening of the valve .and gas inlet and outlet connections adjacent each other adapted to devliver'gas on one side of said valve and to receive gas from the other side of said valve.

7. A structure as'defined in 'claim l1 in which the gas inlet and outlet connections of said unit are formed int an integral manifold adapter which is connected with and substantiallyforms part of Said casing.

8. The combination ofI a valve seat, a Valve', athermostatic element adapted to bend under the infiuence of heat to different "extents within a given temperature range but at different points lon the temperature scale, means for connecting the valve'and said element and. manually operablemeans :for causing relative movement between the v valve and the seat,'such means including a dial( and connecting mechanism such that for different positions of said dial a given angular movement thereof will cause 'varying degrees of movement between the'valve and its seat.` v v 9. The combina-tion of a thermostatic element, a valve, a lever'operatively connecting said valve and saidelement, a pivot for sai lever and, means for moving the position of said pivot ,comprisinga dial and mechanism such that for different positions of said dial, a given langular movement thereof will cause varying degrees of movement of said pivot. 10..A thermostatic control mechanisin comprising the combination of a thermostatic element having a varying movement throughout different temperature ranges, a

valve, a seat forA the valve, a connection between the thermostatic element andA the valve such that the valve is opened and c osed on its seat as thethermostatic element moves, and means in the connection for producing Jequal movements of the valve .throughout temperature ranges in which the movements of the rthermostatic element are unequal. ,i A

11. The combination with 'a gas stove having an oven, a manifold and an oven burner, of a thermostatic1 regulator including a thermostatic element exposed to *oven temperature and a 'valve vactuated thereby and controlling'the flow of gas between Jthe 4manifold andthe oven burner, a supplemental manifoldradapted to be connected to said manifold and having .two passages^ through it, one of which isconnected to the manifold and the other of which is 'connected vto the burner, yand conduits connecting said pas- 4sages Ito opposite sid of said valve.

12. A manifold for use with a thermo-` i staticcontrol device comprising a casing having' a pair of chambers, a gas inlet to one of the chambers in one end of the casing, a gas outlet from this chamber at thei other end of the casing in the sidewall of` latter, and a gas inletand a as outlet in the second chamber in the 1si e wall of the casing.

13. ,The .combination with a gas stove having a manifold, an loven and an oven burner, of a'thermostatic regulator including a thermostatic element, avalve chamber and a valve within the chamber connected to and actuated by the element, a supplemental manifold secufred'to said manifold and hav- .ing two passages through it one of which is the said connection and communicating'with the interior of the casing, means operatedn by Amovements of the dial and acting upon' the connection for regulating the effect of movements of the thermostatic element uponv the Said valve, and connections torthe said chamber for` admitting gas thereto and per- `mitting-it to flow therefrom at opposite sides of the said valve. 15. The combinatio with a gas stove having an oven at one side thereof and a manifo d pipe extending along the other side of the'stove at static tem erature regulator comprising a member a apted to be secured to the end of f the manifold pipe of the stove in communication therewith, a valve within themember movable therein to regulate the flow of gas entering the member from the manifold pipe and supplying the burner of the oven, this valve comprising a seatand a movable member adapted to cooperate vided with a stein, a thermostatic element mounted within the oven'upon the side wall thereof in spaced relation to the member on the manifold and a mechanical connection Vfrom the elementtol the valve stem through .(the front\,thereof, of a thermo-` therewith and' promitted to the movable member of the valve.

16. The combination with a gas stove havmg an oven at' one side thereof-and a manifo d pipe extending alongthe other side of the stove at the front thereof, of a thermostatic temperature regulator comprising a the manifol pipe of the stove in communication therewith, a'valve within the memmember adapted to be secured'to the end of of gas entering the mmber from the manifold pipe and supplying the burner of the oven, this valve comprisii a seat and a member movable toward an away from the latter, a thermostatic element mounted within the oven upon the sidewall thereof in spaced relation to said valvea mechanical connection from the element to the movable ,membenof the valve through which movements of the element are transmitted to the movable member, and a manually adjustable connected `to the passage. through the stove` device located outside the o ven and coopermanifold and the other of which is connected to the oven burner, and pipes connecting the twopassages vof the supplemental manifold to the said chamber on opposite sides of the" valve therein, a mechanical connection from .the thermostatic element to the valve, a casing enclosing the thermostatic element and ating with said 'connection for regulating the.

i e'ect of movements of the element upon the valve. f I' m 17. The combination with a gas stove having an oven at one side thereof and `a manifold pipe' extending along the other side of the stovefat the front thereof, of a thermostatic l temperature regulator comprisin a member adapted to be secured to the enf? of the manifold pipe of the stove in communication therewith, a valve within the member then ber movableL therein to regulate` the flow having a part movable toward and awy from a seat therein to re late the flow of gas entering the member trom the manifold pipe and supplying the burner of the oven,

5 a, thermostatic element mounted Within theoven upon the side wall thereof, a tube extending from the thermo'static element to the valve, and a rod extending through the I tube, saidrod being moved lengthwise within the tube by the thermostatic element and 10 being arranged tofmove themovable purt of said valve relatively to its seat.

WILLARD I. TWOMBLY. 

